Police Beat

By Erin O'Briant

Narcotics incidents dropped considerably during the month of September after a banner month for drug-related arrests in August. Cases of larceny and theft decreased slightly, while vehicle thefts and break-ins continued to trouble local car owners. Armed robberies continued in the neighborhood throughout September, and a local worker was held at gunpoint in a Noe Valley coffee shop in early October (see story at right). Vandalism incidents nearly doubled from August, up to 12 incidents reported in September.

Vandals struck in several parts of Noe Valley. One or more suspects vandalized vehicles on Monday, Sept. 11, on 24th Street between Sanchez and Noe streets. Suspects also vandalized vehicles at Sanchez and 25th streets on Saturday, Sept. 16, and at Noe and Jersey streets on Tuesday, Sept. 19. At 24th and Church streets, a vandalism incident reported Saturday, Sept. 23, included broken windows. A graffiti incident was reported the same day at 30th and Castro streets.

A bit of good news was that officers on patrol in Noe Valley stopped one would-be vandal in his tracks. Two police officers spotted the suspect peering into vehicles in the 1900 block of Diamond Street on Tuesday, Sept. 26, at about 5:30 a.m. They questioned him and found he had multiple felony warrants for burglary, possession of burglar tools, and narcotics paraphernalia. The man was arrested.

Other Interesting Arrests

Only two drug-related incidents happened in September. In one case, a person was arrested for possession of crack cocaine and possession of narcotics paraphernalia. In another, a person from outside the neighborhood was stopped in the first block of 27th Street the evening of Saturday, Sept. 9, for an equipment violation. Officers determined that the woman was on parole and had a crack pipe in her possession. She was also uninsured; her vehicle was towed.

A woman was cited for brandishing a knife in the 2700 block of Diamond Street on Thursday, Sept. 28, at about 7:30 a.m. Officers responded to a call about a person with a knife, and determined that, as a result of a rental dispute, the suspect had brandished a knife at an elderly woman.

Patrol officers made a carjacking arrest at 26th and Church streets on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at about 9:30 p.m. Officers saw a speeding vehicle whose description matched one that had been stolen in a carjacking. They followed, and eventually the vehicle came to a stop when the driver ran into a parked automobile. Numerous police chased the suspects by foot and brought them into custody.

The Voice thanks Noe Valley Police Officer Andrew MacIlrath for his help in providing information for this month's Police Beat.

How to Contact the SFPD

The public is invited to attend police-community meetings held monthly at the Ingleside and Mission Police Stations. Ingleside meetings take place on the third Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m., at Ingleside Station, 1 Sgt. John Young Lane, off the 2000 block of San Jose Avenue. Mission community meetings are held on the last Tuesday of the month, 6 p.m., at Mission Station, 630 Valencia Street near 17th Street.

Noe Valleyans who live north of Cesar Chavez Street (within the bounds of the Mission Police District) may contact Mission Station by calling 558-5400 or e-mailing SFPDMissionStation@ci.sf .ca.us. To report anonymously on drugs, gangs, or other crimes, call Mission Station's hotline at 575-4444.